About NICEC/Diversity and Conflict Management
In its lifespan of almost three years, NICEC/DCM engaged almost a thousand policymakers, practitioners and researchers in ten countries around Europe and the world, through 29 activities. It was featured in the print and broadcast media, and it published over 20 reports and other resources for those working in the same thematic areas or regions. When it closed, many of the project’s outcomes were incorporated into the future work of INCORE, in particular its latest Diversity in Action project. The research conducted by NICEC DCM, and the local and international relationships formed, will continue to act as a valuable resource for the organisation.
NICEC/DCM successfully achieved its objectives and outputs through three main phases of activity – with the project sharpening and deepening its focus as it progressed.
Phase I: Exploration & Partnerships
During this phase the project’s activities were exploratory and focused on developing strategic partnerships and links with relevant European organisations. Fact finding visits as well as reciprocal exchanges with stakeholders (particularly, the Basque Country), identified the regions with closest parallels to, and thus the best opportunities for mutual learning with, Northern Ireland . Substantial work was also completed with the European Union in Brussels to share the Northern Irish experience and ascertain the strategic issues and regions NICEC/DCM would focus on in the future.
Phase II: Multi-sectoral Engagement
During Phase II there was greater focus on involving different sectors in Northern Ireland in NICEC/DCM’s activities. Through, workshops, study visits, and conferences, local policy-makers, practitioners, researchers, and key European contacts engaged in ongoing mutual learning processes, focusing on developing practices and policies in the area of diversity and conflict management. When targeting and engaging different sectors, education was a key, with exchanges between Poland and Kosovo.
Phase III: Dissemination & Making a Difference
The focus from March 2006, was on disseminating the learning of the past two years in Northern Ireland through major events such as the Shared Futures conference. The primary issue was diversity and the challenge of increasing numbers of migrant workers from the European Union in Northern Ireland . Part of this was compiling best practices in working with minority ethnic communities which can be seen in Minority Communities in Action seminars and publications, and the implementation of the Racial Equality Strategy. Linkages between sectarianism and racism were also explored.
For details of project activities in relation to each of NICEC/DCM's themes
please click the links below:
Publications
NICEC/DCM has published resource materials and other outputs in several formats tailored to the needs of policymakers and practitioners, and has aimed to disseminate the learning from its activities as widely as possible. Over 20 reports, articles and papers have been developed including reports on project activities, as well as more substantial best practice and policy papers. Since the beginning of 2006, the project has also disseminated among all its contacts a quarterly e-newsletter with photographs, news, announcements and summaries of activities.
2005
2006
DCM in Northern Ireland
NICEC/DCM has undoubtedly contributed to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland . In particular, the project has: helped develop new and improved relationships between different communities and stakeholders; tackled key peacebuilding issues, obstacles and legacies of the conflict; enhanced learning within Northern Ireland, as well as between Northern Ireland and other places; advanced peacebuilding/diversity policies and practices; and helped Northern Ireland to take advantage of opportunities arising from peace.
